TRACE has announced the first batch of performers and nominees for its first-ever Trace Awards, happening at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday, 21 October 2023.
The Trace Awards are set to showcase the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music across a wide range of genres, including Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.
Artists from over 30 African countries will compete across 22 award categories, with Nigerian artists, led by Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, WizKid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Fireboy DML, and Rema, securing over 40 nominations in total, highlighting the worldwide appeal of Nigerian Afrobeat.
ARTISTS TO PERFORM AT THE TRACE AWARDS:
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Bamby (French Guiana)
- Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Blxckie (South Africa)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
- Bwiza (Rwanda)
- Didi B (Ivory Coast)
- Dystinct (Morocco)
- Janet Otieno (Kenya)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Kalash (Martinique)
- Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
- Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
- Locko (Cameroon)
- Mikl (Reunion)
- Perola (Angola)
- Plutonio (Mozambique)
- Princess Lover (Martinique)
- Ronisia (France)
- Rutshelle Guillaume (Haïti)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
- Tayc (France)
- Terell Elymoor (Mayotte)
- Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
2023 TRACE AWARDS NOMINEES:
BEST MALE
Asake (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Davido (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Didi B (Ivory Coast)
K.O (South Africa)
Rema (Nigeria)
BEST FEMALE
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Josey (Ivory Coast)
Nadia Mukami (Kenya)
Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
SONG OF THE YEAR
“BKBN” – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
“People” – Libianca (Cameroon)
“Suavemente” – Soolking (France)
“Encre” – Emma’a (Gabon)
“Sugarcane” – Camidoh (Ghana)
“Last Last” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
“Rush” – Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
“Calm Down” – Rema (Nigeria)
“Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
“Sete” – K.O (South Africa)
“Cough” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
“MORTEL 06” – Innoss’B (Ivory Coast)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
“2 Sugar” – Wizkid (Nigeria) feat. Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
“Baddie” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
“Kpaflotage” – Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
“Loaded” – Tiwa Savage(Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria)
“Ronda” – Blxckie (South Africa)
“Tombolo” – Kalash (Martinique)
Yatapita” – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
BEST NEWCOMER (SPONSORED BY MAISON MARTELL)
Azawi (Uganda)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Nissi (Nigeria)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
Roselyne Layo (Ivory Coast)
BEST COLLABORATION (SPONSORED BY MAISON MARTELL)
“Many Ways” – BNXN (Nigeria) with Wizkid (Nigeria)
“Mine” – Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) with Oxlade (Nigeria)
“Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
“Second Sermon” – Black Sherif (Ghana) with Burna Boy (Nigeria)
“Sete” – K.O (South Africa) with Young Stunna (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa)
“Stamina” – Tiwa Savage with Ayra Starr (Nigeria) & Young Jonn (Nigeria)
“Trumpet” – Olamide (Nigeria) with Ckay (Nigeria)
“Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
BEST DJ
Danni Gato (Cape Verde)
DJ BDK (Ivory Coast)
DJ Illans (France)
DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
Michael Brun (Haiti)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
BEST PRODUCER
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
Juls (Ghana)
Kabza de Small (South Africa)
Kel-P (Nigeria)
Tamsir (Ivory Coast)
BEST GOSPEL ARTISTS
Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
Janet Otieno (Kenya)
KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
Levixone (Uganda)
Moses Bliss (Nigeria)
BEST LIVE
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Musa Keys (South Africa)
The Compozers (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
BEST DANCER
Robot Boii (South Africa)
Tayc (France)
Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
BEST ARTIST AFRICA – ANGOLPHONE
Asake (Nigeria)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Davido (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
BEST ARTIST AFRICA – FRANCOPHONE
Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Emma’a (Gabon)
Fally Ipupa (DRC)
KO-C (Cameroon)
Locko (Cameroon)
Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast)
Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
BEST ARTIST AFRICA – LUSOPHONE
Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
Perola (Angola)
Plutonio (Mozambique)
Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
BEST ARTIST – RUWANDA
Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Bwiza (Rwanda)
Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
BEST ARTIST – FRANCE & BELGIUM
Aya Nakamura (France)
Booba (France)
Nihno (France)
Ronisia (France)
Soolking (France)
Tayc (France)
BEST ARTIST – UK
Central Cee (UK)
Headie One (UK)
Ms Banks (UK)
Raye (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
BEST ARTIST – THE CARIBBEAN
Admiral T (Guadeloupe)
Bamby (French Guiana)
Kalash (Martinique)
Maureen (Martinique)
Popcaan (Jamaica)
Princess Lover (Martinique)
Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)
Shenseea (Jamaica)
BEST ARTIST – INDIAN OCEAN
Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
GaEi (Madagascar)
Goulam (Comoros)
Mikl (Reunion)
Sega el (Reunion)
Terell Elymoor (Mayotte)
BEST ARTIST – NORTH AFRICA
Amira Zouhair (Morocco)
Artmasta (Tunisia
Dystinct (Morocco
El Grande Toto (Morocco)
Kader Japonais (Algeria)
Raja Meziane (Algeria)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“DNK”- Aya Nakamura (France)
“Love Damini” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
“Maverick” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
“More Love, Less Ego” – Wizkid (Nigeria)
“Timeless” – Davido (Nigeria)
“Work of Art” – Asake (Nigeria)
Voting is now open via https://trace.plus/awards.
The awards are presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell.
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